The Children of Times Square

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, The Children of Times Square is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 15 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Howard Rollins's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason The Children of Times Square keeps coming up in conversation. The Children of Times Square treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. An alienated teenage boy runs away from home and ventures to New York City where he falls in with a gang of juvenile delinquents working as drug dealers and pickpockets for a shady crime boss. Howard Rollins and Joanna Cassidy lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It was released in 1986. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — The Children of Times Square passes that test consistently. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Children of Times Square delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Howard Rollins anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.

The Children of Times Square was released in 1986, directed by Curtis Hanson. The full 94-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.